The Manhattan Beach Unified School district was selected as one of five honorees in the state of California to earn the prestigious Green Ribbon Schools environmental award, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson announced on Friday.

With the statewide honor, MBUSD will advance to compete nationally in the U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition program, which honors schools that conserve resources while promoting health and environmental literacy.

Torlakson commended MBUSD and the other nominees for reducing their environmental footprint and engaging students using sustainability and the environment as the context for learning. "Their efforts are helping to build healthier, more resilient communities and a more prosperous California," he said.

The other honorees were Los Angeles Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, Bay Farm School in Alameda, and Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland. The schools and districts were also named "Green Achievers," the highest honor in the California Green Ribbon Schools recognition program.

Green Ribbon Schools demonstrate exemplary achievement in three "pillars" - reducing environmental impact and costs; Improving the health and wellness of schools, students, and staff; and providing effective environmental education that teaches many disciplines and is especially good at effectively incorporating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, civic skills, and green career pathways.

MBUSD has documented a 33 percent reduction in non-transportation energy use and a 44 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from a 2009 baseline. All MBUSD schools are ENERGY STAR certified. MBUSD diverts 100 percent of food waste by combining on-site composting with a municipal program that converts food waste into Engineered Bioslurry used to generate energy. MBUSD was the first district to pilot and implement the parent-initiated programs Grades of Green and Growing Great programs. MBUSD earned a CA-GRS Silver Level Award in 2015, and Grand View Elementary School was recognized as a U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School in 2012.